STORMED BY AMERICAN TROOPS IN TUNISIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 May 1943, Page 3

STORMED BY AMERICAN TROOPS IN TUNISIA

All Enemy Counter-Attacks Repulsed SMALL GAINS BY FRENCH AND EIGHTH ARMY TEMPORARY SLOWING DOWN ON CENTRAL FRONT LONDON, May 2. In Tunisia fighting on the British First Army’s front has temporarily slowed down, but the Americans and French in the north and the British Eighth Army in the south, have all scored fresh successes. Yesterday the most notable advances were made by troops of the American Second Army Corps. At the extreme north of the front the Americans, operating with French troops, charged their way up the western slopes of a hill, 14 miles north-west of the main road and railway junction of Mateur. Further down the front ,other American forces have captured the famous hill 609 and are now consolidating their positions on it. This hill is 14 miles south-south-west of Mateur. American guns are bombarding that town and the roads leading to it. Still further down the front, the Americans won their third success of the day by capturing hill 476, eight miles north of Medjez el Bab, and overlooking the main road to Tebourba. A correspondent, referring to the Americans’ achievements, said they had made short but important advances along the whole of their front. General Alexander has congratulated the commander and men of the American Second Corps on the determination of the men in their attack and in repulsing all enemy counter-attacks. Yesterday’s fighting on the British First Army’s front was not on such a heavy scale. The German counter-attacks have eased off and General Anderson’s men have seized the opportunity to improve their positions without much enemy interf ereiTcc The French continue their pressure on enemy positions covering Pont du Fahs and stormed a hill four miles from the town. After being driven off the hill by a fierce counter-attack, the French won the position back again and held it. Further enemy counter-attacks were all repulsed with heavy losses. The Eighth Army has made a slight advance in the hills five or six miles north of Enfidaville. All gains were held against repeated counter-attacks. An earlier message stated that the Medjerda valley remains the scene of the fiercest Tunisian clashes, with the battle for Bou Aoukaz (nine miles west of Tebourba) undecided after five days of bloody fighting. A savage German counterattack from the crest of Bou Aoukaz pushed back the British to a line 400 yards from the crest. The tide of battle has ebbed and flowed between this line and the crest since Tuesday last. Elsewhere, on granite slopes semi-circling Medjez el Bab, the honours appear fairly even. The First Army has gained some ground on the Medjez el Bab-Tebourba Road, but the Germans have retaken Sidi ikbdullah.